Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 - European Commission - Europa
Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 - European Commission - Europa
Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 - European Commission - Europa
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- <strong>in</strong> its “2050 Low carbon Roadmap” 46 the <strong>Europe</strong>an <strong>Commission</strong> sketches a pathway towards<br />
further greenhouse gas reduction of 80% - 95% by 2050, focus<strong>in</strong>g on a range of sectors.<br />
- the labour market implications of this transition phase will be supported by the New Skills<br />
and Jobs Agenda 47<br />
These policies are set out as the backbone of a policy-driven technological and social change. In,<br />
from an environmental po<strong>in</strong>t of view, an optimistic scenario, a new wave of “green restructur<strong>in</strong>g”<br />
accompanied by green re- and up-skill<strong>in</strong>g can be expected. While the extent of such change has<br />
been subject to some analysis (e.g. Cambridge econometrics et al. 2011 48 , see <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
<strong>Commission</strong> 2009 49 for an overview), the quality of such a change and its implications for work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
conditions and employment have not been extensively analysed (see, however, EU-OSHA 2011a 50<br />
and 2011b 51 for health and safety implications). Recent research by the <strong>Europe</strong>an Foundation has<br />
tried to fill this gap.<br />
The social partners at <strong>Europe</strong>an level are engaged <strong>in</strong> this topic with<strong>in</strong> different forums – particularly<br />
the sectoral social dialogue committees – (see chapter 7) and have issued a variety of position<br />
papers and op<strong>in</strong>ions.<br />
On the worker side, the concept of “Just Transition” was adopted by the Trade Union congress <strong>in</strong><br />
Vancouver, ITUC (2010) 52 . It embraces a package of policy proposals aimed at foster<strong>in</strong>g a socially<br />
just, environmentally susta<strong>in</strong>able transition. Policies <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> green and labour<br />
<strong>in</strong>tensive technologies and sectors, research and early assessment of social and employment<br />
impacts, social dialogue and the democratic consultation of all stakeholders, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and skills<br />
development and local analysis and economic diversification plans 53 .<br />
On the employer side, employer representatives stress the importance of ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
competitiveness by ensur<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>ternational level play<strong>in</strong>g field for <strong>in</strong>dustry – (Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<strong>Europe</strong><br />
2008 54 ) or by keep<strong>in</strong>g the regulatory burden of environmental legislation low and empower<strong>in</strong>g<br />
SMEs, through tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, advice and access to fund<strong>in</strong>g, to play their part <strong>in</strong> fight<strong>in</strong>g climate change<br />
46 <strong>Europe</strong>an <strong>Commission</strong> 2011, COM 2011 (112) f<strong>in</strong>al<br />
47<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an <strong>Commission</strong> 2010, COM 2010 (682) f<strong>in</strong>al<br />
48 Cambridge Econometrics, GHK and Warwick Institute for Employment Research, 2011. ‘Studies on Susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />
Issues – Green Jobs; Trade and Labour’ F<strong>in</strong>al Report for the <strong>Europe</strong>an <strong>Commission</strong>, DG Employment.<br />
49 <strong>Europe</strong>an <strong>Commission</strong>, 2009 ‘Employment <strong>in</strong> <strong>Europe</strong> 2009’, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an Communities.<br />
50 <strong>Europe</strong>an Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), 2011a ‘Foresight of New and Emerg<strong>in</strong>g Risks to<br />
Occupational Safety and Health Associated with New Technologies <strong>in</strong> Green Jobs by 2020. Phase I - Key drivers of<br />
change’, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union.<br />
51 <strong>Europe</strong>an Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), 2011b. ‘Foresight of New and Emerg<strong>in</strong>g Risks to<br />
Occupational Safety and Health Associated with New Technologies <strong>in</strong> Green Jobs by 2020. Phase II - Key<br />
technologies’, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union.<br />
52 ITUC (2010) ‘Resolution on combat<strong>in</strong>g climate change through susta<strong>in</strong>able development and just transition’<br />
2CO/E/6.10 (f<strong>in</strong>al).<br />
53 Rosemberg ‘Build<strong>in</strong>g a Just Transition: The l<strong>in</strong>kages between climate change and employment’, <strong>in</strong> ILO, International<br />
Journal of Labour Research, 2010, Vol. 2, Issue 2.<br />
54 Bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>Europe</strong> 2008 ‘Combat<strong>in</strong>g Climate Change: Four key pr<strong>in</strong>cipals for a successful <strong>in</strong>ternational agreement’<br />
http://www.bus<strong>in</strong>esseurope.eu/content/default.asp?PageID=568&DocID=21780<br />
204